Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Maximum permitted weights for certain closely-spaced axles, etc.

91.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a)a wheeled motor vehicle which complies with the relevant braking requirement;

(b)a wheeled trailer which is drawn by such a vehicle; and

(c)an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer and an agricultural trailed appliance.

(2) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part VI of Schedule 13 and has two closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the maximum permitted weight specified in column 3 of that item.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part VII of Schedule 13 and has three closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the weight specified in column 3.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle is fitted with four or more closely-spaced axles, the weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed 24,000 kg.

(5) The prohibition in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply to a vehicle, first used before 1st June 1973, being used on a road at a weight at which as respects those axles it could be used if it fell within item 5 in the Table in regulation 90 and nothing in those paragraphs shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a)that vehicle, on or before 31st December 1992, is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 79; and

(b)the laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed the weight shown on that plate.

(6) In Parts VI and VII of Schedule 13, “air-suspension”, “road friendly suspension” and “twin tyres” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 87(5), (6) and (7).